Sintering apparatus



1930. A. HO'LMBERG SINTERING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 28, 1928 2 SheetsSheet l My 6, '1930. A. HOLMBERG'Y 1, 57,863

SINTERING" APPARATUS Eil-ed Jan. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 6, 1930 "UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE smrnnine AP'PARATUS Application filed January 28, 1928. Serial No. 250,309.

The present invention relates to apparatus for sintering fine ores or the like in which portable sintering vessels are used which during the performance of the sintering proc- 5 ess proper are held in place on stationary work positions and, after the sintering process is completed, are removed from said positions and carried to a distant place to be emptied.

The object of this invention is to provide a reliable apparatus of the above said kind which requires a minimum of operators. More particularly, the object of the invention is to enable a mechanical emptying of the ves- 1 sels.

The invention is characterized, chiefly, by the fact that a mechanical tipping device is provided at said distant place, adapted to receive one sintering vessel and which may 2 be rotated together with the vessel to cause the sintered material to drop out of the vessel.

In the accompanying drawing one embodiment of a sintering plant according to this 25 invention is shown by Way of example.

Figure 1 is a substantially diagrammatic side elevation, with part in section, of said plant. Fig. 2 is a plan view, with part in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on a larger 30 scale of the emptying device with a sintering vessel shown therein. Fig. 1 is a correspond ing plan view of the emptying device. Fig. 5 shows a detail of the emptying device.

The sintering plant shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises four stationary work positions 1 each adapted to receive a portable sintering vessel. The sintering plant further comprises an emptying place 2 with a pit 3 shown in front thereof to receive the sintered material, and a travelling crane 5 running on the rails 4: and carrying the wagon 6 and the drivers stand 7 with its associated controlling mechanism. The wagon is provided with means, as chains and hooks, to carry one sintering vessel 8.

At the emptying place 2 there is provided a tipping device, which is more nearly shown in Figs. 35. Said tipping device comprises a frame work 9 secured to a horizontal shaft 10, which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings. The frame work 9 is formed with an opening to receive one sintering vessel 8. To guide said vessel when lowered into the frame guiding horns 90 are provided. When placed in said opening the sintering vessel rests with a circumferential flange 11 on a number of shoulders 12 (four such shoulders are shown in the drawing) formed in the opening of the frame. At a distance above said shoulders 12 the frame is provided with a pair of retaining bolts 13 situated at opposite sides of the frame and adapted to engage over an upper flange 14 on the sintering vessel, as shown in Fig. 3. In such position the sintering vessel is positively held in place in the frame so that it cannot drop out thereof even if the frame be rotated by rotation of the shaft 10. Said retaining bolts 13 may slide to and from the sintering vessel and are connected by fork-shaped levers 15 to spring operated links 16 connected to oppositely directed arms 17 on a horizontal shaft 18. Said shaft carries a control lever 19 extending into the path of a cam 20 carried by the travelling crane which may be formed, for instance, by a strap secured to said crane. 7

' The shaft 10 of the frame 9 may be driven through suitable transmission from a preferably electric motor 21. The motor controller 22 is positioned so that it may be readi ly manipulated by the operator from the drivers stand 7 when this is at a position in front of the controller. Connected to the shaft 10, as by the bevel gears 23, shaft 24, and bevel gears 25 or equivalent transmission means is an indicating device 26 to show the positions of the shaft 10 and thus also of the frame 9 at every moment.

By means of the travelling crane a charged sintering vessel is placed upon a free work position 1. After the sintering process is completed the vessel is lifted by means of the travelling crane and carried to the emptying place so that it will come to hang vertically above the opening of the frame 9. During the last portion of the movement of the travelling crane to said position the strap 20 will operate the control lever 19, swinging it from the full line position to the dotted line position in Fig. 3. This will withdraw the retaining bolts to the dotted line position while compressing the springs acting on the links 16. The vessel can now be lowered down into the frame, into the opening of which it is properly guided by the guiding horns 90. The operator may then go back with the crane to a position in front of the controller 22 to start the motor 21 to rot-ate the frame 9. As soon as, in said return movement of the crane, the control lever 19 is released from its engagement with the strap 20, the retaining bolts 13 will be restored to their operative position under the action of their respective springs so as to engage over the flange 14, as shown in Fig. 3.

The motor 21 when started from controller 22 rotates the frame 9 with the vessel, causing the content of the latter to drop into the pit 3. After the vessel is emptied the frame 9 is restored to its initial position, aliowing the vessel to be lifted out thereof by means of the travelling crane to be again charge-d.

I claim:

1. A mechanical tipping device for portable sintering vessels, which comprises in combination, a frame rotatable around a horizontal axis, a normally upwardly directed opening in said frame to receive a sintering vessel, means on said frame to guide a sintering vessel to proper position in s id opening when lowered down thereinto, to retain a vessel in engagement with the frame, and means to rotate the frame around said axis.

2. A mechanical tipping device for port able sintcring vessels, which comprises in combination, a frame rotatable around a horizontal axis, a normally upwardly directed opening in said frame to receive a sintering vessel, means on said frame to guide a sintering vessel to proper position in said opening when lowered down thereinto, means to retain a vessel in engagement with the frame, driving means to rotate the frame around said axis, means to control said driving means, and means to indicate the momentary position of the frame.

3. A mechanical tipping device for portable sintering vessels, which comprises in combination a frame rotatable around a horizontal axis, a normally upwardly directed opening in said frame to receive a sintering vessel, means on said frame to guide a sint-ering vessel to proper position in said opening when lowered down thereinto, means to retain a vessel in engagement with the frame, means to automatically release said retaining means to allow a vessel to be lowered down into the frame and released therefrom, and means to rotate the frame around said axis.

4. A mechanical tipping device for portable sintering vessels, which comprises in combination, a frame rotatable around a horizontal axis, a normally upwardly directed opening in said frame to receive a sintering vessel, means on said frame to guide a sintering vessel to proper position in said opening when lowered down thereinto, means to retain a vessel in engagement with the frame, means to automatically release said retaining means to allow a vessel to be lowered down into the frame and released therefrom, driving means to rotate the frame around said axis, means to control said driving means, and means to indicate the momentary position of the frame.

5. A mechanical tipping device for portable sintering vessels, which comprises in combination a frame rotatable around a horizontal axis and open at its top when in normal position to receive a sintering vessel lowered down into the frame, means to retain a vessel in engagement with the frame, means to automatically release said retaining means to allow a vessel to be lowered down into the frame and released therefrom, and means to rotate the frame around said axis without releasing the sintering vessel therefrom.

6. A mechanical tipping device for portable sintering vessels, which comprises in combination, a frame rotatable around a horizontal and open at its top when in normal position to receive a sintering vessel lowered down into the frame, means to retain a vessel in engagement with the frame, means to automatically release said retaining means to allow a vessel to be lowered down into the frame and released therefrom, driving means to rotate the frame around said axis without releasing the sintering vessel therefrom, and means to control the operation of said driving means.

7. A mechanical tipping device for portable sintering vessels, which comprises in combination, a frame rotatable around a hori- Zontal axis and open at its top when in normal position to receive a sintering vessel lowered down into the frame, means to retain a vessel in engagement with the frame, driving means to rotate the frame around said axis, means to automatically release said retaining means to allow a vessel to be lowered down into the frame and released therefrom, means to control the operation of the driving means, and means to indicate the momentary position of the frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name.

ANDERS I-TOLMBERG. 

